Silo and like receptacle.



C. J. LAWLESS.

SILO AND LIKE REOEPTAGLE.

APPLIOATION TILED NOV.25,1912.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

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CHRISTOPHER J. LAWLESS, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

SILO AND LIKE RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1912.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Serial No. 733,239.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER J. LAW- LESS,of the city of Lincoln, county of Lancaster, and State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Silos and LikeReceptacles, and have described the same in the following specification,illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates primarily to that class of cylindrical silos in theconstruction of which a plurality of staves are set edge to edge to formthe peripheral wall.

It also relates to other receptacles of like construction, such asbarrels, kegs, circular water-tanks and the like. It need not beparticularly described, except as embodied in silos.

It is the object of the invention to strengthen a silo of the specifiedclass as against possible buckling of the staves and possible collapseof the silo walls; to provide superior means for attaching to the silowalls the usual anchoring cables; to facilitate the erection of thesilo, and preventit from being blown down by the wind before completion,by providing means for holding the staves in position in an increasinggroup while they are being assembled; and in general to produce asuperior receptacle of the specified class. To this end I incorporate inmy improved silo an external wire hoop encircling the top of thereceptacle, an internal wire hoop comprising a series of mutuallyengaging and separable hoop sections, and means for clamping the stavesbetween the external and the internal hoops.

The best manner in which I have contemplated applying the principles ofthe invention, is shown in the drawings; yet the invention itself is notrestricted to any specific arrangement or construction of parts,excepting as limitations of that kind are either expressed ornecessarily implied in the subjoined claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of the upper portion of asilo which is constructed in accordance with these principles. This silois shown open at the top and uncovered. Fig. 2 is a group of details inperspective. Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the same silo incompletelyassembled.

This illustrative silo comprises a plurality of staves 1 and theencircling hoop 2, which is adjustable in circumference by means of theconnecting lug 3 and the nuts 4:, all common in silos of this class. Theinternal hoop consists of a plurality of hoop sections 5, formed ofstilt elastic wire. Each of these sections comprises a main portionwhich is denoted by the same numeral 5, and a screwthreaded shank 6.Viewed from above, the main portion 5, when free from tension, has fromend to end, an approximately circular curvature somewhat sharper thanthat of the silo wall. The curvatures here referred to are plainlyexhibited in juxtaposition at the left in Fig. 3. Each of these sectionsis somewhat longer than the collective width of several of the staves 1.At one end it is pivotally supported by its straight and screw-threadedshank 6, which is inserted in a radial and horizontal position, and hasits bearing, in a hole through one of the staves.

At the same time, the free end of each hoop section, being by a pivotalmovement of the latter laid across the shank 6 of the contignoussection, is permanently supported thereon in the position shown in thedrawings, and is retained in that position by the upwardly bent portionof the last mentioned section, adjacent to its pivotal shank.

The means for clamping the inner and the outer hoops to the silo staves,comprise a nut 7 and a perforated clamping-block 8, which are located oneach shank 6, outside the silo wall. This block has a centralperforation 9 for the accommodation of the shank 6, a groove 10 acrossits inner face at the top for engagement with the external hoop 2, and ahole 11 near the bottom for attachment to the anchor cable 12.

In assembling the parts of this silo, a plurality of the slaves, forminga group spanned by a single internal hoop section 5, are clampedtogether independently by manipulation of that hoop section and of theclamping n'lcchanisms adjacent to the ends of that section respectively.Then another group, contiguous to the first, is similarly assembled andsimilarly clamped together and to the first group; and then successivegroups one after another in the same way till the cylindrical wall ofthe receptacle is complete. Consequently the silo, even beforecompletion, is able to stand up against high winds. Again, the clampingof the staves between the inner and the outer hoops bends the inner hoopsections toward straight-ness and into conformity with the largercurvature of the silo wall. By this bending, each hoop section, beingelastic, is placed under tension and caused to exert.

continual outward pressure against-- the inside of the staves itsubtends. By "tl1is-ar-'- rangenient, the staves are perpetually held bya spring clamp com-prising an inner hoop having interlocking sections,and an outer hoop of adjustable circumference. In short,

my improved receptacle, being constructed and operating as described.and shown, ac-

colnplishes thcxobj ect of the invention in all its branches abovespecified. I

I claim as my .invention l. A receptacle of the specified class,comprising plurality of cylindrically disposed staves, anexternal hooencircling the staves, an internal hoop having separable interlock- -ingsections separately pivoted to the wall-of the receptacle, and :meansfor clamping the staves between the external and the internal hoops.

2. A receptacle of sthespecified class, comprising a pluralityof-cyllndricallygrouped staves, an external hoop, adj'ustalole in car-:cumference, enclrclrng the staves, an internal hoo having a pluralityof separable overlapping sect-ions slidable upon each other, and meansifor clamplngthe staves betweenthe hoops.

- 8. A receptacle of the specified class, comprising a plurality ofstaves arranged cyl indrically, an extennallhoop of adjustable sizeencircling the staves, an internal hoop having spring sections ofsharper curvature than the stave cylinder, and means for clam-ping thestaves between the external hoop and the internal hoop sections.

4. A receptacle of the specified -class,"-co1nprising a plurality .ofstaves arranged cylindrically, an external hoop of adjustable size,encircling the staves, an internal hoop having overlapping sections ofsharper curvature than the internalcurvature ofthe stave cylinder, and.means for .-clarn ,pin the the cylinder wall, clamping blocks workingonthe pivotshanks, and engagingthe externalhoop andmeans for adjustingthe clamping-blocks on the pivot shanks.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my namein the presence of twowitnesses.

CHRISTQ'PHER .l LAKV'IJESS.

In the presence of 7 W-InLAnD EDDY,

CAY EY.

co'p'iesmf this patent may lac obtained for'five ieen tseach, thyaddressing ethefiflom nissioner of -Ba'ten'ts,

'Washi-ngton, D. '0'.

